Garioch

[6] This is still the meaning used in a charter granting land to the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1190,[6] but by 1195 the name was being used to describe the entire area of the provincial lordship, extending as far east as Inverurie.

[5] Before the late 12th century, Garioch consisted only of the area of the parishes of Culsalmond, Insch, Rathmuriel, Kennethmont, Leslie, Premnay and Clatt[6] in the hilly country to the west of Oyne.

[5] It was probably a shire or thanage,[7] and may originally either have formed part of the province of Buchan, or been an area of the Pictish territory of Cé under the direct control of the kings of the dominant neighbouring kingdom of Fortriu.

[13] Earl David was the King's brother and had first-hand experience of suppressing rebellions in the north, having accompanied William with a "great army" on a military expedition to Ross in 1179.

[14] Under his lordship the Garioch was intensively settled with colonisers from an English, French, Norman, Breton and Flemish background, which can still be seen in local placenames such as Ingliston near Caskieben, Williamston in Culsalmond and Flinder (originally Flandres) near Kennethmont.

Map of Scotland showing the present-day committee area of Garioch
The view from Bennachie to Tap o' Noth , across the area of the original shire or thanage of Garioch.
The Bass of Inverurie , the remaining motte of the main castle of the provincial lordship of Garioch
The Shevack inscription stone at Newton.